Nosler Partition Article

[Kracken McGraw]

The August 2018 American Rifleman has a good article about John Nosler and how the Partition bullet was developed after other bullets failed him on a B.C. moose hunting trip. Made it in his own back shop, then tried to sell it to Sierra and Speer unsuccessfully. He sold his trucking business to start his own company. Anyway well worth the read if you have access to the magazine.

 

[watercam]

His is a classic story in the firearms world. I live not too far from their plant in Bend, OR and shoot at a Highpower range named in his honor (with some financial help from Nosler to boot). He and his family are titans in the industry.

 

[K22]

I'm a big fan of both Nosler and Sierra bullets. No doubt that the partition bullet performs very well on tough big game as advertised. When I hunted bear I used them in both the 30-06 and 308. While I never took one with this bullet my buddy did and it worked to perfection, the bear when about 50 yards and crumbled. He's taken three using this bullet.

I've taken a number of white tail with the 243, 308 and 30-06 and don't believe that the partitions are needed for deer. I've used the Sierra Pro Hunter bullets in these calibers. In addition I've used the excellent Sierra 85 BTHP in the 243 on deer which is now my go to bullet in the 243 for deer, varmints, and predators. Never lost a deer to any of these bullets - not counting a few out right misses.

My problem with the partitions was that I could never get them to group well, most groups were in the 1 1/2 to 2" range. While this level of precision is more that adequate for the distances I normally hunt big game I never saw the reason to use them for deer. However I would select them for hunting bear or larger game animals like Elk or Moose..

 

[Prose]

I'm a big fan of both Nosler and Sierra bullets. No doubt that the partition bullet performs very well on tough big game as advertised. When I hunted bear I used them in both the 30-06 and 308. While I never took one with this bullet my buddy did and it worked to perfection, the bear when about 50 yards and crumbled. He's taken three using this bullet.

I've taken a number of white tail with the 243, 308 and 30-06 and don't believe that the partitions are needed for deer. I've used the Sierra Pro Hunter bullets in these calibers. In addition I've used the excellent Sierra 85 BTHP in the 243 on deer which is now my go to bullet in the 243 for deer, varmints, and predators. Never lost a deer to any of these bullets - not counting a few out right misses.

My problem with the partitions was that I could never get them to group well, most groups were in the 1 1/2 to 2" range. While this level of precision is more that adequate for the distances I normally hunt big game I never saw the reason to use them for deer. However I would select them for hunting bear or larger game animals like Elk or Moose..

I read a theory, possibly by John Barsness, about the partition not being "Super Accurate" because it doesn't balance well due to it's construction. Though not knowing firsthand whether or not it is factual, it was believable. As you said though, it is plenty accurate enough for what it is designed to do.

 

[wboggs]

I began using them in the late 50's. They were the only bullet that would withstand high velocities at close range and expand at longer ones. Accuracy was pretty good with the first ones, around 1 1/2 " at 100yds and this was with 1950's technology in hunting rifles. As time went on they became more accurate. I have taken animals from
50-2000 lbs and never had a failure. A true classic.
Bill